title: Craniovertebral junction melanocytoma: a case report.
abstract: Melanocytomas are rare melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system and its presence at the foramen magnum is extremely rare. We report a case of a 55-year-old male presenting with progressive quadriparesis over one year. Imaging showed a well-defined intradural extramedullary lobulated mass at craniovertebral junction towards the left side and extending to left C2-3 neural foramina. Patient was operated through foramen magnum approach with near total excision of tumor. On a ten-month follow up, he was ambulatory with normal motor power on right side of body and left lower limb and with motor power of 4-/5 in left upper limb. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the lesion to be a melanocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Christian Medical College, Department of Neurosurgery, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Pranshu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: Sarvpreet Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.forename: Yashbir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dewan
authors.forename: Sukhdeep Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jhawar
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome